Presidential candidates Sen. John McCain — who said Wednesday that he was suspending his campaign because of the nation’s economic crisis — and Sen. Barack Obama will meet Thursday with President Bush to discuss a proposed Wall Street bailout.

McCain and Obama accepted Bush’s invitation to discuss the proposed $700 billion bailout with him and congressional leaders at the White House, the candidates’ aides said Wednesday night.

Also Wednesday night, McCain and Obama said in a joint statement that the bailout plan was “flawed” but that “the effort to protect the American economy must not fail.”

“Now is a time to come together — Democrats and Republicans — in a spirit of cooperation for the sake of the American people,” read the statement, which was released about 15 minutes before Bush made a televised address on the economy.

The White House rivals maneuvered to claim the leadership role in resolving the economic turmoil that has overshadowed their campaign six weeks before Election Day. Obama said he would proceed with his debate preparations while consulting with bailout negotiators and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. McCain said he would stop all advertising, fundraising and other campaign events to return to Washington and work for a bipartisan solution.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, McCain’s representative in debate negotiations, said McCain will not attend the debate “unless there is an agreement that would provide a solution” to the financial crisis. Graham, R-S.C., told The Associated Press that the agreement would have to be publicly endorsed by Obama, McCain, the White House and congressional leaders, but not necessarily given final passage by the House and Senate.

It is good to look presidential, but neither of these guys has to be part of the deliberations.